Shanghai Community International School

Written by Helen He, MYP and DP Mandarin Language Acquisition at SCIS Hongqiao 

 

It is well-known that culture should be the core content of foreign language teaching. At SCIS, we highly value the inclusion of Chinese culture in the teaching and learning of Mandarin.  

Learning our host country's language (Mandarin) is a great way to immerse our students in the culture. Chinese characters often tell stories and are easy to remember when exploring their etymology. We teach Chinese radicals to novice students, which will help them build up their characters as they move up to the next levels of Mandarin learning. The close connection between Chinese characters and their cultural roots is obvious and adds a cultural dimension to language learning. 

We always encourage our students to make friends with locals because building relationships with the local people is one of the best ways to learn Mandarin as well as to integrate into Chinese culture. In addition, exploring the local cuisine is another great way to experience the culture. We organize field trips to local Chinese food markets and restaurants so that students can try local dishes to better understand the food culture and dining etiquette. 

Our Middle Years Programme (MYP) Mandarin Phase 3 and Phase 4 students are currently exploring the Unit of Chinese Folktales and Legends which can be an engaging and educational experience that helps students learn more about Chinese history, culture, and values. By teaching the concepts of character development, moral lessons, cultural values, and beliefs, students will gain a deeper understanding of Chinese legends and the role they play in Chinese history and culture. They will also be able to identify and appreciate the universal themes and lessons that can be found in these timeless stories. 

One of the annual highlights at our school is the celebration of various Chinese festivals including the mid-Autumn festival, Lantern Festival, and Lunar New Year also known as Chinese New Year in China. Chinese New Year is celebrated as a whole school event, where students watch dragon and lion dance on the field. Both Lower School and Upper School students showcase their Mandarin learning and cultural understanding through performances such as Chinese calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, and short plays in Mandarin.  

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and learn more about the culture. Our high school students have been participating in activities and projects that involve local Chinese school students which involved creating a language exchange activity with a local Chinese primary school in Changning district. Our students read English books to the primary school students, and, in exchange, our students understand more Chinese culture by interacting with the local school students.  

As language teachers, we are all aware that understanding a culture that is different from one’s own expands one’s cognitive and psychological competence. As such, integrating Chinese culture has always been an important element in our Mandarin teaching and learning at SCIS. By immersing our students in Chinese culture, we would like them to understand an alternative way of living, thinking, and feeling. 

 

SCIS. China Host Culture.